Time switch



April 9, 1963 Filed March 11, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 [five/717k Poerf A.Bay/es April 9, 1963 R. BOYLES 3,085,136

TIME SWITCH Filed March 11, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ji AZ 55* April 9,1963 R. BOYLES 3,085, 3

TIME SWITCH Filed March 11. 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 H66. 6. FAQ 2' UnitedStates Patent 3,085,136 TIME SWITCH Robert L. Boyles, Wayland, Mass,assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York FiiedMar. 11, 1960, Ser. No. 14,257 12 Claims. (Cl. 200-38) This inventionrelates to time controlled devices, and more particularly to switch andalarm means actuated as a function of time.

In my co-pending application, Serial No. 605,032, filed August 20, 1956,now US. Patent No. 3,033,948, and assigned to the same assignee as theinstant invention, there is disclosed a time switch and alarm forcontrolling a radio receiver and an audible alarm vibrator so thatoperation of the radio receiver will be automatically commenced at aparticular preset time, and after the lapse of a predetermined timeinterval, operation of the audible alarm vibrator will be commenced. Thetime switch disclosed in the above-mentioned application may also becontrolled manually to start or turn off the radio receiver at any time.My invention is concerned with such a time switch and alarm mechanismand the provision of a unique arrangement for controlling an alarmmechanism and a switch.

Correspondingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide animproved reliable time switch and alarm mechanism having a minimumnumber of parts which may be readily manufactured.

It is highly desirable that time switches in combination with audiblealarm means he provided with simplified control mechanisms so that anoperator may readily set the time switch and alarm mechanism to performany one of the plurality of control functions mentioned above withoutbecoming involved in a series of complicated setting operations toarrive at a particular setting he desires. Accordingly, it is a furtherobject of this invention to provide an improved time switch and alarmmechanism which may be readily controlled by an easily understoodpushbutton arrangement.

In accordance with one aspect of this invention, a timing devicecomprises an audible alarm vibrator and a switch. A two part articulatedlever means is provided for actuating the switch and for obstructingoperation of the audible alarm vibrator. The lever means may be moved inone direction to a plurality of different positions by means driven bythe timing device. When the lever means is moved automatically in theabove-mentioned direction to one position, the switch is closed and whenthe lever is moved further in said direction to a different position,operation of the audible alarm is permitted. Thus, the lever means isutilized to sequentially close the switch at a preset time and after thelapse of a predetermined time interval, permit operation of the audiblealarm vibrator. A manual means is positioned adjacent to one of thelever parts for moving said part in said one direction at any time toclose the switch. By this arrangement, a simple reliable mechanism whichmay include a lowcost two position switch is provided for performing theplurality of functions mentioned above.

Further objects and advantages of my invention as well as othermodifications and uses thereof will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds. My invention will be better understood by reference to theaccompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the operating mechanism of thetime switch and audible alarm showing the switch in the manual Onposition;

FIG. 2 is a partial front perspective view of the time switch and alarmwith the control mechanism set to automatically close the switch at apreset time and after the lapse of a short time interval permitoperation of the audible alarm;

FIG. 3 is a partial front perspective view of the time switch and alarmset in the position shown in FIG. 2, after the switch has been closedautomatically at the preset time but before the alarm is released;

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevational view of the switch and alarm shownin FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial front perspective view of the time switch and alarmmechanism set in the position shown in FIG. 3 after the switch has beenclosed automatically and the alarm has been released;

FlG. 6 is a side elevational view of the switch and alarm mechanismshown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial front perspective view of the time switch and alarmmechanism showing the switch in the manual Ofif" position;

FIG. 8 is a front eievational view of the pushbutton mechanism; and

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the pushbutton sliders.

Referring now to the drawings and first, particularly to FIG. 1, thereis shown a time control device comprising a generally square casting 1suitable for mounting in any desired manner on apparatus such as a radioreceiver (not shown). This mechanism comprises a supporting structureincluding a rear plate 2, and a front plate 3 upon which is mounted adial plate 4 having the usual clock indicia painted or otherwisegenerally centrally placed thereon. The clock is provided with hour,minute, and second hands, 5, 6 and 7, respectively, mounted for movementover the dial and driven by a conventional timing device gear train.

The timing device may include any suitable form of timer motor hereshown as a self-starting synchronous motor 8, a field coil 9 of which isconnected to a source of regulated frequency alternating current. Aterminal shaft 10 including a gear 11 fixed thereto extends through therear plate 2 for driving the hands of the clock and the time switch andalarm mechanism. A resilient magnetic vibrator 12 operated by leakageflux from the motor is arranged to have its free end portion 13 vibrateagainst a stator nut 14 and produce an audible alarm at all time whenthe motor is energized unless the vibrator is prevented from vibratingby a lever 15 in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter.

A time set cam gear 16 having a projecting cam portion 17 locatedthereon is rotatably mounted on the supporting structure. The angularposition of cam gear 16 is manually adjustable in a conventional mannerby a knob 18 which extends through the rear of the casing. A hand 19 isconnected to cam gear 16 for rotation therewith in order to indicate thetime setting of cam gear 16. A second rotatable cam gear 20 having a camsurface 22 is also rotatably mounted on the supporting structure asshown, and is axially movable to actuate the time switch and alarmmechanism in a manner to be hereinafter more fully described. Cam gear20 is driven by motor 8 at one revolution every 12 hours through asuitable gearing arrangement in a manner well known in the art. Hourhand 5 and cam gear 24 may both be fixed to a common shaft 21 so thatearn gear 20 may rotate the hour hand 5 at one revolution in every 12hours. In a manner known in the art, at the time set by cam gear 16, camsurfaces 17 and 22 cooperate with each other to move gear 20 axiallyaway from cam gear 16. The background structure so far described is alsoillustrated and described in my abovernentioned co-pending application,assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

A simple low cost two-position switch which may be utilized to controlan apparatus such as a radio receiver is provided for actuation by myimproved mechanism. In the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1, the switchcomprises a resilient movable switch blade 24 provided with a contact 25for cooperation with a fixed switch contact 26. Switch blade 24 isnormally self-biased downwardly to the closed position with the movablecontact 25 in abutting relation with the fixed contact 26, and aninsulated plate 27, is provided for moving resilient blade 24 upwardlyto open the switch.

A uniquely designed means is provided for automatically moving switchblade 24 to the closed position and for automatically releasing alarmvibrator 12. This automatic means comprises a two part lever arrangementincluding the lever and a latch lever 28, both lever parts being pivotedon the same axis. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, lever 15 is fixed to ashaft 29 which is pivotally mounted in apertures formed in the front andrear supporting plates. In order to loosely mount lever 28 on shaft 29for movement in a plurality of directions, the shaft 29 is provided witha reduced portion 31 and the lever 28 is provided with an aperture 32which is greater than the reduced portion of shaft 29 but smaller thanthe major portion of the shaft. With this arrangement, lever 28 may berotated in one direction or the other with respect to lever 15 about theaxis of shaft 29, and in addition the lever 28 may be pivoted in anaxial direction with respect to the shaft for a purpose to be more fullydescribed hereinafter. As shown in FIG. 1, lever 15 is generally L-shaped and is provided with an outwardly extending arm 33 forcooperating with insulated plate 27 to actuate the switch. An upperportion of arm 33 of the lever is provided with a rearwardly extendinglug 34 for cooperating with a forwardly extending lug 35 which may beformed on vibrator 12 in order to obstruct operation of the vibrator 12.Preferably, the parts are arranged so that upon clockwise rotation oflever 15, lever 15 first lifts the alarm vibrator 12, and then bothvibrator 12 and switch actuator plate 27.

Latch lever 28 cooperates with the twelve-hour cam gear forautomatically moving lever 15 in one direction to sequentially close theswitch at a preset time, and after the lapse of a predetermined timeinterval, permit operation of alarm vibrator 12. As shown moreparticularly in FIG. 4, latch lever 28 is provided with a forwardlyextending lug 36 for contacting a side portion of the axially movabletwelve hour cam gear 28. Thus, cam gear 20 may move the lower portion oflatch lever 28 rearwardly at the preset times. The lower portion oflatch lever 28 is provided with a forwardly extending tab 37 having aplurality of steps 39 and 40 formed thereon for cooperating with a hole41 which may be cut in front plate 3. In the position shown in FIG. 2,it can be seen that step 39 cooperates with an edge 46 of hole 41 toprevent counterclockwise rotation of latch lever 28 about shaft 29.

A tension spring 42 is provided for urging latch lever 28 forwardly asviewed in FIG. 1, and for biasing a curved stop portion 43 of the latchlever into engagement with a stop lug 44 formed on the lever 15 so thatthe two lever parts 15 and 28 may act as a unit or as if made in onepiece. To achieve this, one end of spring 42 may be connected to a tab45 which is struck forwardly out of latch lever 28 while the other endof the spring is connected to the forwardly extending lug 44 fixed tolever 15. Referring now to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the spring 42forces the curved stop portion 43 of latch lever 28 into engagement withlug 44 so that the latch lever 28 and lever 15 may rotate as a unitabout the axis of shaft 29. It can also be seen that spring 42 pivotslever 28 forwardly about the reduced portion of lug 44 and pivot 31 tohold lug 36 in contact with the twelve hour cam gear 20. With the partsin the positions shown in FIG. 2, step 39 of the latch lever 28cooperates with a step 46 formed at hole 41 to prevent counterclockwiserotation of the latch lever, and spring 42 holds levers 15 and 28together against the force of switch blade 24 and vibrator arm 12. Thus,lever 15 holds vibrator 12 above field nut 14 and also holds the switchcontacts 25 and 26 in the open position. As the time preset by cam gear16 is approached cam surface 22 will engage cant surface 17 to slide camgear 20 rearwardly, thereby pivoting latch lever 28 rearwardly aboutpivot 31 and the reduced portion of lug 44 to allow vibrator 12 andswitch blade 24 to move latch lever 28 from step 46 to a lower step 47as shown in FIG. 3. At the same time, resilient switch blade 24 andresilient vibrator 12 rotate the articulated lever means 15, 28 as aunit, an increment in a counterclockwise direction. Thus, insulatedswitch actuator 27 is moved downwardly by the spring force of switchblade 24 until contact 25 abuts contact 26 to close the switch; however,such slight rotational movement of the articulated lever means .15, 28does not move lug 34 downwardly far enough to enable the end portion 13of vibrator 12 to contact field nut 14 to sound the alarm. As shown inFIG. 5, continued rotation of cam gear 20 will cause cam surface 22 tomove further up on cam surface 17 in order to slide gear 20 stillfurther rearwardly. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6, latch lever 28 ispivoted about shaft 29 and lug 44 far enough rearwardly so that step 40becomes disengaged from edge 47 of hole 45. This completely disengageslatch lever 28 from hole 45 and therefore resilient vibrator 12 pivotslever means 15, 28 as a unit in a counterclockwise direction to lowerlug 34 sufiiciently far enough so that vibrator 13 may contact field nut14 to thereby sound the audible alarm.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pushbutton arrangement is pro vided for manuallyoperating the switch and for setting the switch and vibrator controlmechanism for automatic operation at preset times. Very briefly, thisarrangement includes an On pushbutton slider 48 for closing switchcontacts 25 and 26, an Auto pushbutton slider 49 for setting the switchand vibrator control mechanism for automatic operation at preset times,and an Off pushbutton slider 50 for opening contacts 25 and 26.Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, the pushbutton sliders 48, 49 and 50comprise pieces of sheet metal suitably stamped for receiving an end ofone of the coil springs 52, 53 and 54, respectively, for biasing thesliders upwardly. As shown, the other ends of the springs may beconnected to a top portion 64 of the front plate 3. In order toreciprocally guide each of the sliders, tabs 55, 56 and 57 may beforwardly bent from front plate 3 for cooperating with slots 58, 59, and60, respectively, formed in the sliders. In addition, the upper portionof each of the sliders may be conveniently guided within slots 61, 62and 63 which may be readily stamped out of the forwardly extending topportion 64 of the front plate.

A horizontally slidable latch bar 51 is provided for latching one of thesliders 48, 49 or 50 in a depressed position while simultaneouslyreleasing any of the other sliders than may have been depressed. Latchbar 51 may be conveniently guided for horizontal motion by tabs 65, and6-6 which may be forwardly struck out of the front plate. As shown, thetabs 65 and 66 cooperate with complemental slots 67 and 68,respectively, formed in the latch bar, and a spring 69 is provided forurging the latch bar 51 to the right. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, inorder to hold slider 48 in a depressed position, the slider is providedwith a latch notch 70 for receiving a rearwardly bent latch tab 71formed on the spring urged latch bar 51. For similar purposes, the Autoslider 49 is provided with a latch notch 72 for receiving a rearwardlybent latch tab 73 formed on the slider bar 51, and the Off slider 50 isprovided with a latch notch 74 for cooperating with a latch tab 75formed on the slider bar 51 to hold the Off slider depressed.

Cam means is provided for moving latch bar 51 to the left against theforce of spring 69 to release the pushbutton sliders from the latch bartabs. As shown, slider bars 48, 49 and 50 are provided with cam surfaces76, 77 and 78 respectively. These cam surfaces cooperate with tabs 71,73 and 75, respectively, to move the latch bar 51 to the left as viewedin FIG. I. With this arrangement, when either the "On" or Autopushbutton slider is depressed, its cam surface moves the latch bar 51to the left to release any one of the other pushbutton sliders which mayhave been depressed, and further movement of the pushbutton sliderdownwardly permits its latch bar tab to engage with its locking notch tohold the pushbutton slider in a depressed position.

My uniquely designed *On" pushbutton mechanism is provided forsimultaneously closing switch contacts 25 and 26 and resetting latchlever 28 so that step 39 of the latch lever is placed over step 46 ofhole 41. This mechanism includes a rearwardly extending rod 79 fixed toslider 48 for moving lever 15 downwardly to close switch contacts 25 and26, but not far enough to permit vibration of vibrator 12. A pivotedlever 80 is arranged for engagement by rod 79 for forcing lever 15upwardly against rod 79 and for resetting the latch lever 28 when the Onpushbutton is depressed. As shown more particularly in FIG. I, resetlever 80 may be pivotally mounted on a stud 81 fixed to front plate 3.One side 82 of the lever is provided with a surface 83 for engagementwith rod 79, while the other side of the lever is provided with a lug 84fixed thereto for cooperation with a slot 85 formed in the latch lever.With this arrangement when the On" slider 48 is moved downwardly, rod 79simultaneously moves lever 15 downwardly to close switch contacts 25 and26 and rotates lever 80 counterclockwise about pivot 81 to rotate latchlever 28 clockwise about shaft 29 in opposition to spring 42 to therebyreset the latch lever and hold lever 15 up to obstruct vibration ofvibrator 12. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, step 39 of the latchlever 28 is rotated beyond step 46 of hole 41, and spring 42 pivotslatch lever 28 forwardly to hold step 39 over step 46 when spring 69moves latch tab 71 into engagement with notch 70 to hold the On sliderin the down position.

A unique Ofl' pushbutton arrangement is designed for simultaneouslyopening contacts 25, 26 obstructing operation of the alarm vibrator 12,and resetting the latch lever 28. The arrangement for opening contacts25 and 26 after the On pushbutton slider has been depressed will bedescribed first. When the Off pushbutton slider 50 is depressed, camsurface 78 moves the latch bar 51 to the left to release the Onpushbutton slider 48 or any other pushbutton slider that may have beendepressed. In releasing the On" pushbutton slider, rod 79 moves unwardlyaway from lever 15. Thus, with the reset lever 28 in its reset positionwith step 39 on step 46 of hole 41, as shown in FIG. 7, spring 42 mayrotate lever 15 clockwise to move plate 27 upwardly against the force ofvibrator 12 and switch blade 24 to open contacts 25 and 26. During suchmovement, stop 44 on lever 15 is brought into contact with the curvedstop 43 on the latch lever 28.

Of course, with the Oil pushbutton arrangement thus far described,should the earns 17 and 22 be in the posi tions shown in FIG. 6 with thelatch lever 28 released, spring 42 could not move lever 15 upwardly toopen the switch contacts when the Oil slider is depressed. Accordingly,I provide a simple unique means for resetting the latch lever and lever15 to the alarm Off and switch Off positions when the Oil pushbuttonslider is depressed. As shown in FIG. 1, the Oil pushbutton slider 58 isprovided with a rearwardly extending rod 86 fixed thereto. The rod maybe conveniently guided by a side surface 87 formed on the rear plate.With this arrangement, when the Off pushbutton slider 50 is depressed,rod 86 moves into engagement with a curved surface 88 of latch lever 28to rotate latch lever 28 clockwise about shaft 29 to the Off positionshown in FIG. 7. During this movement, spring 42 rotates lever 15clockwise to move insulated plate 27 upwardly against the force ofvibrator 12 and switch blade 24 to open contacts 25 and 26. In addition,during such movement lug 35 is moved upwardly far enough so thatvibrator 12 is held above field nut 14 in the alarm Oil position.Accordingly, rod 86 simultaneously opens switch contacts 25, 26,prevents operation of the vibrator and resets latch lever 28.

Referring now to FIG. 1, when the Auto pushbutton slider 49 isdepressed, it releases any other pushbutton slider previously depressed.This is accomplished by cam surface 77 which abuts latch bar tab 73 tomove the latch bar to the left against the force of spring 69. Aspreviously described, rod 86 on the Off pushbutton slider cooperateswith surface 88 to reset latch lever 28, and rod 79' fixed to the On"pushbutton slider functions through lever 80 to reset latch lever 28.Thus, when either the On pushbutton slider or the Off pushbutton slideris released by the Auto slider, step 39 of the latch lever 28 is locatedon step '46 of hole 41 in position to be automatically operated by camgear 20 in the manner previously described. Obviously, when the 0:1" andOff sliders are in their up positions, rods 79 and 86 cannot influenceautomatic operation of lever 15 and latch lever 28.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that my improved time switchand alarm mechanism comprises a relatively simple and uniquely arrangedarticulated two part lever means 28, 15 for actuating an alarm and a lowcost two position switch. The lever means 15, 28 rotates in onedirection as a single lever during the automatic operation of the timeswitch and alarm, and during such operation, latch lever 28 is alsopivoted axially with respect to lever 15 by the time cam mechanism. Whenthe On or Oil pushbuttons are depressed, rod 79 or 86, respectively,resets the latch lever 28. Thus, an exceedingly simple yet effectivetime switch and alarm mechanism is achieved.

Operation From the foregoing description it will also be appreciatedthat my improved pushbutton time switch and alarm may be readily setwithout becoming involved in a series of complicated setting operations.If it is desired to have the switch for operating apparatus such as aradio receiver closed at some time in the future, say 5 oclock, andafter the lapse of a short time interval sound the alarm vibrator, knob18 at the rear of the timing mechanism is rotated to set hand 19 to the5 oclock position illustrated in FIG. 1 in a conventional manner tothereby set the angular position of cam gear 16, and the Auto pushbuttonslider 49 is depressed. In pushing slider 49 downwardly, the On and Offsliders are released so that rods 79 and 86 cannot influence automaticoperation of the time switch and alarm.

The mechanism can now operate to trip latch lever 28 and lever 15 to theposition shown in FIG. 3 to close the switch at 5 oclock. The timingdevice rotates the clock hands toward 5 oclock and at the same time, thetiming mechanism rotates cam gear 20 clockwise. As the preset time isapproached the cam portions on gears 16 and 20 come into contact witheach other and cam portion 22 rises on cam portion 17, thereby pivotinglatch lever 28 rearwardly about pivot 31. At 5 oclock, latch lever 28 ismoved far enough rearwardly to allow step 39 to become disengaged fromstep 46 as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, vibrator 12 moves articulated levermeans 15, 28 in a counterclockwise direction until step 40 on latchlever 28 engages step 47 of hole 41. This slight counterclockwisemovement of articulated lever 28, 15 allows switch blade 24 to movecontact 25 into abutting relation with respect to fixed contact 26 toclose the switch. As the timing mechanism continues to rotate gear 20,cam surfaces 22 and 17 on gears 16 and 20, respectively, move furtherinto alignment with each other to thereby move gear 20 furtherrearwardly to approximately the position shown in FIG. 5. In thisposition, step 40 of latch lever 28 is disengaged from step 47 of hole41. This allows vibrator 12 to move the articulated lever 15, 28counterclockwise to the position shown in FIG. 5. Vibrator 12 snaps downon field nut 14 and starts buzzing. The buzzing will continue and theswitch will remain closed until either the On or the Off pushbuttonslider is depressed. If the Off pushbutton slider 50 is depressed rod 86will pivot latch lever 28 clockwise about pivot 31 and spring 42 willrotate lever 15 clockwise to move lug 35 far enough upwardly to shut offthe alarm and to move insulated plate 27 upwardly to open contacts 25and 26. If the On" pushbutton slider 48 is depressed, rod 79 will actthrough lever 80 to pivot latch lever 28 and lever 15 clockwise to shutoil the alarm, but rod 79 will also act against the top portion of lever15 to hold the lever down far enough to keep the switch closed.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of thisinvention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variousother changes and modifications can be made therein Without departingfrom the invention, and therefore, it is aimed in the appended claims tocover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spiritand scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a timing device, an audible alarm vibrator, a switch, a pluralposition two-part lever means for actuating said switch, and forobstructing operation of said alarm vibrator, means driven by saidtiming device for automatically moving said lever means in one directionto sequentially close said switch at a preset time and after the lapseof a predetermined time interval permit operation of said alarmvibrator, and manual means for moving one of said lever parts in saidone direction at any time to close said switch.

2. In a timing device, an audible alarm vibrator, a switch, a pluralposition two-part lever means for actuating said switch and forobstructing operation of said alarm vibrator, spring means foryieldingly holding the parts of said lever means in engagement with eachother, means driven by said timing device for automatically moving saidlever means as a unit in one direction to sequentially close said switchat a preset time and after the lapse of a predetermined time intervalpermit operation of said alarm vibrator, and manual means for moving oneof said lever parts in said one direction in opposition to the force ofsaid spring means at any time to close said switch.

3. In a timing device, an audible alarm vibrator, a switch, a pluralposition two-part lever means for actuating said switch, and forobstructing operation of said alarm vibrator, means driven by saidtiming device for automatically moving said lever means in one directionto sequentially close said switch at a preset time and after the lapseof a predetermined time interval permit operation of said alarmvibrator, and manual means for simultaneously moving one of said leverparts in said one direction at any time to close said switch and formoving the other one of said lever parts in an opposite direction to setsaid lever means for automatic operation.

4. In a timing device, an audible alarm vibrator, a switch, a pluralposition two-part lever means for actuating said switch and forobstructing operation of said alarm vibrator, means driven by saidtiming device for automatically moving said lever means in one directionto sequentially close said switch at a preset time and after the lapseof a predetermined time interval permit operation of said alarmvibrator, a manually operable pushbutton slider, and a rod fixed to saidpushbutton slider for moving one of said lever parts in said onedirection at any time to close said switch but not far enough to permitoperation of the alarm vibrator.

5. In a timing device, an audible alarm vibrator, a switch, a pluralposition two-part lever means for actuating said switch, and forobstructing operation of said alarm vibrator, means driven by saidtiming device for automatically moving said lever means in one directionto sequentially close said switch at a preset time and after the lapseof a predetermined time interval permit operation of said alarmvibrator, a manually operable pushbutton slider, a rod fixed to saidpushbutton slider for moving one of said lever parts in said onedirection at any time to close said switch, and a pivoted lever arrangedfor engagement by said rod for moving the other one of said lever partsin an opposite direction to set said lever means for automatic operationwhen said pushbutton slider is depressed.

6. In a timing device, an audible alarm, a switch, a pivoted lever meansfor operating said switch and said audible alarm, a latch lever meanspivoted on the same axis as said pivoted lever means for holding saidpivoted lever means in one position to maintain said switch open and toprevent operation of said alarm, two steps formed on said latch levermeans, means driven by said timing mechanism for disengaging one step ofsaid latch lever means to thereby allow said pivoted lever means to moveto a second position to close said switch at a preset time, said meansdriven by said timing mechanism being operable to disengage the otherstep of said latch lever means to allow said lever means to move to athird position to thereby maintain said switch closed and permitoperation of said audible alarm, and manual means movable intoengagement with said pivoted lever means for rotating said pivoted levermeans with respect to said latch lever means to close the switch.

7. A time switch comprising a timing mechanism, an audible alarmvibrator, a resilient movable contact biasing the switch to a closedposition, a pivoted lever in operative relation with said movablecontact for actuating said switch and for obstructing operation of saidalarm vibrator, a latch lever arranged for rotational and pivotal motionwith respect to said pivoted lever, spring means for connecting saidlatch lever to said pivoted lever and for moving said pivoted lever toopen the switch when said latch means is held in one position, meansdriven by said timing mechanism for automatically moving said pivotedlever and said latch as a unit in one direction to sequentially closesaid switch at a preset time and after the lapse of a predetermined timeinterval to permit operation of said alarm vibrator, and manual meansmovable nto engagement with said pivoted lever means for rotating saidpivoted lever means with respect to said latch lever in opposition tosaid spring means when said latch is in said one position to permit saidresilient movable contact to close the switch.

8. In combination with a clock, a switch, an audible alarm vibrator,time control means operated by said clock for automatically controllingsaid switch and said vibrator, manual means for closing and opening saidswitch independently of said time control means, a twopart articulatedpivoted lever means through which said controls operate on said switch,and vibrator control means provided on one of said lever parts forobstructing operation of said alarm vibrator, stops on the lever partsfor limiting relative rotation of said lever parts in oppositedirections, a spring connected between the lever parts for yieldinglyholding the stops in engagement but allowing the lever parts to rotaterelative to each other when the spring is tensioned, said two-part levermeans acting as a single lever without relative rotation between itsparts when the switch is closed automatically and the vibrator is causedto sound automatically in response to the time control means, and one ofsaid parts acting alone without movement of the other part when theswitch is closed by said manual means.

9. In a timing device, an audible alarm vibrator, a switch a lever foractuating said switch and for obstructing operation of said alarmvibrator, a plural position latch pivoted to said lever, means driven bysaid timing mechanism for successively actuating said latch to therebymove said lever to sequentially operate said switch and said alarmvibrator, a first manually operable pushbutton slider, a rod fixed tosaid pushbutton slider for moving said lever in one direction at anytime to close said switch, a pivoted lever arranged for engagement bysaid rod for moving said latch in an opposite direction to hold saidlatch in one position when said first manually operable pushbuttonslider is depressed, and a second manually operable pushbutton slider, arod fixed to said second pushbutton slider for moving said latch in saidopposite direction to hold said latch in said one position when saidsecond pushbutton slider is depressed.

10. In a timing device, an audible alarm vibrator, a switch, a lever foractuating said switch and for obstructing operation of said alarmvibrator, a plural position latch pivoted to said lever, means driven bysaid timing mechanism for successively actuating said latch to therebymove said lever to sequentially operate said switch and said alarmvibrator, a first manually operable pushbutton slider, a rod fixed tosaid pushbutton slider for moving said lever in one direction at anytime to close said switch, a pivoted lever arranged for engagement bysaid rod for moving said latch lever in an opposite direction to holdsaid latch in one position when said first manually operable pushbuttonslider is depressed, a second manually operable pushbutton slider a rodfixed to said second pushbutton slider for moving said latch in saidopposite direction to hold said latch in said one position when saidsecond pushbutton slider is depressed, means for retaining said firstpushbutton slider in its depressed position, and cam means formed onsaid sec ond manually operable pushbutton slider for releasing saidfirst manually operable pushbutton slider from its depressed positionwhen said second pushbutton slider is depressed.

11. In a timing device, an audible alarm vibrator, a switch, a lever foractuating said switch and for obstructing operation of said alarmvibrator, a plural position latch pivoted to said lever means driven bysaid timing mechanism for successively actuating said latch to therebymove said lever to sequentially operate said switch and said alarmvibrator, a first manually operable pushbutton slider, a rod fixed tosaid pushbutton slider for moving said lever in one direction at anytime to close said switch, a pivoted lever arranged for engagement bysaid rod for moving said latch in an opposite direction to hold saidlatch in said one position when said first manually operable pushbuttonslider is depressed, a second manually operable pushbutton slider, a rodfixed to said second pushbutton slider for moving said latch in saidopposite direction to hold said latch in said one position when saidsecond pushbutton slider is depressed, means for retaining said firstand second pushbutton sliders in their depressed positions, a thirdmanually operable pushbutton slider, and cam means formed on said thirdmanually operable pushbutton slider for releasing said first and saidsecond pushbutton sliders, from their depressed positions.

12. In a timing device, an audible alarm vibrator, a switch, a lever foractuating said switch and for obstructing operation of said alarmvibrator, a plural position latch pivoted to said lever, means driven bysaid timing mechanism for successively actuating said latch to therebymove said lever to sequentially operate said switch and said alarmvibrator, a first manually operable pushbutton slider, a rod fixed tosaid first pushbutton slider for moving said lever in one direction atany time to close said switch, a pivoted lever arranged for engagementby said rod for moving said latch in an opposite direction to hold saidlatch in one position when said first manually operable pushbuttonslider is depressed, a second manually operable pushbutton slider, a rodfixed to said second pushbutton slider for moving said latch in anopposite direction to hold said latch in said one position when saidsecond pushbutton slider is depressed, means for retaining said firstand second pushbutton sliders in their depressed positions, cam meansformed on said second manually operable pushbutton slider for releasingsaid first manually operable pushbutton slider when said secondpushbutton slider is depressed, a third manually operable pushbuttonslider, means for retaining said third slider in its depressed position,cam means formed on said third pushbutton slider for releasing saidfirst and said second manually operable pushbutton sliders, and cammeans formed on said first manually operable pushbutton slider forreleasing said second and third manually operable pushbutton sliders.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,721,441 Boyles Oct. 25, 1955 2,782,274 Powers et al Feb. 19, 19572,977,433 Beiser et al. Mar. 28, 1961 2,994,183 Dimond et al. Aug. 1,1961

1. IN A TIMING DEVICE, AN AUDIBLE ALARM VIBRATOR, A SWITCH, A PLURALPOSITION TWO-PART LEVER MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID SWITCH, AND FOROBSTRUCTING OPERATION OF SAID ALARM VIBRATOR, MEANS DRIVEN BY SAIDTIMING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY MOVING SAID LEVER MEANS IN ONE DIRECTIONTO SEQUENTIALLY CLOSE SAID SWITCH AT A PRESET TIME AND AFTER THE LAPSEOF A PREDETERMINED TIME INTERVAL PERMIT OPERATION OF SAID ALARMVIBRATOR, AND MANUAL MEANS FOR MOVING ONE OF SAID LEVER PARTS IN SAIDONE DIRECTION AT ANY TIME TO CLOSE SAID SWITCH.